I was in Bangkok recently and met three lawyers working for the UN in east Timor. They were having a spot of R%26amp;R, and over a few beers in the hotel we talked.
These are serious men. They advised me not to go. Suggested that the present peace is actually quite fragile; admitted that the worst perpetrators of violence and inhumanity will never be accountable; and, sadly, see a future of either invasion (from Indonesia) or civil war once the UN leaves.
I spent some time there in 1974 and like the people quite a lot. It is a pity.
viability of East Timor travel
I was there in Sep/Oct 2002 and couldn%26#39;t disagree more. I was strictly a tourist and had a superb time. The timorese are extremely friendly and helpful, never had an ounce of trouble and travelled the length and breadth of the country on an old moped without a single incident.
Ignore these pompous UN types...go there for the totally unspoilt scenery and beaches and very generous warm people.
That said, I didn%26#39;t linger long at th eborder with West Timor which is where there would likely be any toruble. As for the rest...hassle free all the way.
viability of East Timor travel
I agree with Kincloers. I was in Timor and travelled extensively in 2003 and it was great! The Timorese are the most hospitable and friendly I have found anywhere in the world. I am sure you would most likely know this from 1974.
The UN types don%26#39;t leave their compounds except to eat in western style restuarants in Dili or to visit Maubisse as tourists (in their air-conditioned cars) or places like that. I should know, I was in the UN - very few of my comrades got to know the Timorese in any other capacity than cleaners, drivers %26amp; cooks.
Go there - sure it has a violent recent history but the violence is not directed at tourists or westerners anymore - in fact it would have to be safer there than in LA, USA. It would also have to be one of the last great %26#39;undiscovered%26#39; tourist destinations because it has be in a time capsule under the Indonesians for 20 years.
Enjoy! Make sure you go to Jako Island (Eastern tip), Mt Ramlau (tallest mountain - not too hard a climb (path the whole way) with a beautiful sunrise) and Maubisse for a lovely, cool climate with nice scenary.
Guynock.
HI
I was in ET with UN in 2001.. Great people, great place. it is really safe. Be careful in Dili particularly out of the central district.
There is a bit of opportunistic crime but probably less than in most capitals. I wouldnt go roaming around rough parts of sydney so wouldnt do it in Dili.
Timorise are very political and passionate about it. Steer clear of demonstrations as they can turn violent against each other very quickly. They wouldnt turn on you but you may get stuck in the middle.
I dont think the indons will invade, they wouldnt have left if that was on thier minds. I fear that it could get ugly if the political situation was to flare up.
But definately go. It is wonderful paricularly in the mountains where it is really lovely. Have lunch at the restaurant in Maubisse and eat local once you arrive. Drink bottled water.
cheers
dazzler
Does anyone know about visa requirements for East Timor at the moment? They obviously don%26#39;t have loads of embassies all over the world so what do you have to do. Are all visas just issued on arrival?
I agree with the other posters. My wife and I visited in May 2003. Had a wonderful time. There was no hint of violence. We were advised to travel East and avoid the border areas like Maliana etc. We stayed in Hotel Dili for most of the stay. The host, Gino Favaro, was very accomodating to our needs. The food was good and the other guests interesting. Don%26#39;t expect good roads, the infrastructure was badly damaged. We went south across the mountains and back and stayed a night in Baucau. The Posada was comfortable and the food was excellent. Don%26#39;t have great expectations, relax and enjoy the experience. I would go back in a heartbeat. If your looking for a resort location, try somewhere else (though there was developments in Com that you should check out).
Regarding ozzieporl%26#39;s qustion. Visas are paid for on arrival. $US25 per month. This was a point fo contention as all non-timorese had to pay, regardless of residency. I met a priest in Baucau that had been there for other 20 years and he now has to pay his monthly Visa. hopefully that is going to get sorted out.
I, too, was in East Timor in 2001 with UNTAET and can only say that it is a most friendly and welcoming country. The roads are somewhat less than perfect but the people are great.
I would take the advice from those lawyers. Nasty little country if you ask me. I lived there for two years and I blame the Portuguese-Timorese elite for the continuous neglect of the country, resulting in a lack of development and ongoing poverty-driven violence. I was robbed twice, once at a beach in broad daylight by ten machete-wielding lunatics. Not too long ago I observed court proceedings, spoke to the police, read continuous situation reports and I have to say that crime - despite the fact that first the UN police and later the independent government were claiming the opposite - was quite staggering for such a small country. I keep hearing updated reports from press colleagues and things are certainly not getting better from what I gather. Besides, there%26#39;s not much to do in East Timor. The reefs have been destroyed by dynamite fishing, the towns are dreary and the general atmosphere, as one might expect given the political situation, quite depressing.
There%26#39;s no doubt that Timor needs the influx of cash that tourism generates. The trouble is that the revenue is unlikely to end up in the hands of those who need it the most, but instead with the rich political elite or with Australian contractors and gold diggers. The Indonesian archipelago has so many things to offer and as a tourist you will experience a much warmer and more striking cultural manifestations in Sulawesi, Central Java, Bali, Komodo, even in West Timor.
